CJTF – OIR Monthly Civilian Casualty Report

SOUTHWEST ASIA- In the month of July, CJTF-OIR carried over 424 open reports of possible civilian casualties from previous months and received 68 new reports resulting from Coalition strikes in support of partner force operations to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. During this period, the Coalition completed the assessment of 37 reports, of which 24 were assessed to be non-credible and 13 were assessed to be credible, resulting in 61 unintentional civilian deaths. To date, based on information available, CJTF-OIR assesses that, it is more likely than not, at least 685 civilians have been unintentionally killed by Coalition strikes since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve. A total of 455 reports were still open and being assessed at the end of the month. Coalition strikes are defined as ground artillery or air strikes conducted as part of the Coalition Air Tasking Order.

CJTF-OIR takes all reports of civilian casualties seriously and assesses all reports as thoroughly as possible. Although we are unable to investigate all reports of possible civilian casualties using traditional investigative methods, such as interviewing witnesses and examining the site, the Coalition interviews pilots and other personnel involved in the targeting process, reviews strike and surveillance video if available, and analyzes information provided by government agencies, non-governmental reports, partner forces, and traditional and social media. In addition, the Coalition considers new information when it becomes available in order to ensure a thorough and continuous review process.

To date, based on data between August 2014 and July 2017, the Coalition conducted a total of 24,160 strikes that included 51,038 separate engagements. During this period, the total number of reports of possible civilian casualties was 1169. The total number of credible reports of civilian casualties during this time period was 164. The percent of engagements that resulted in a report of possible civilian casualties was 2.29%. The percent of engagements that resulted in a credible report of civilian casualties was .32%.

After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following 24 reports are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient information available to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.

1. Feb. 25, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

2. March 7, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

3. March 10, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

4. March 17, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

5. March 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

6. March 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

7. March 20, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

8. April 27, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After review of the available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

9. May 14, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

10. May 27, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via media report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

11. May 30, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

12. May 31, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

13. June 5, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

14. June 8, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: After review of the available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

15. June 9, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

16. June 11, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

17. June 12, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

18. June 15, 2017, near Al Mayadin, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

19. June 19, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

20. June 21, 2017, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

21. June 26, 2017, near Hawijah, Iraq, via self-report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

22. June 27, 2017, near Kirkuk, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

23. June 28, 2017, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

24. July 9, 2017, near Al Mayadin, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Although the Coalition takes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimizes the risk of civilian casualties, in some incidents casualties are unavoidable. Thirteen reports were assessed to be credible resulting in the unintentional death of 61 civilians.

A credible assessment means it is more likely than not a Coalition strike resulted in a civilian casualty. In each of the incidents below, the investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties unfortunately occurred.

1. Dec. 14, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position engaging partner forces, it was assessed that four civilians were unintentionally killed.

2. March 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, it was assessed that 11 civilians in an adjacent structure were unintentionally killed by secondary explosions from the VBIED.

3. March 14, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that 27 civilians in an adjacent structure were unintentionally killed.

4. May 9, 2017, near Al Mansura, Syria, via social media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that one civilian, not observed near the target before the engagement, was unintentionally killed.

5. May 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

6. May 29, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when he entered the target area after the munition was released.

7. June 7, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that one civilian, not observed near the target before the engagement, was unintentionally killed.

8. June 10, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS UAS launch and recovery site, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed.

9. June 15, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed by secondary explosions.

10. June 21, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that seven civilians, not observed near the target before the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

11. June 21, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that one civilian, not observed near the target during the engagement, was unintentionally killed.

12. June 23, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position, it was assessed that two civilians, were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

13. June 28, 2017, near Mayadin, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on a convoy of ISIS oil trucks, it is was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed. After warning shots were fired, all truck drivers but one stopped, vacated their vehicles and moved a safe distance away. One truck continued driving and was subsequently destroyed and its driver presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.

Currently, 455 reports of civilian casualties are still being assessed:

1. Feb. 23, 2015, near Al Jaysee, Syria, via Airwars report.

2. April 22, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report, re-opened due to new information being provided.